Re: Animist numbers

From: KYER, JEFFREY <jeff.kyer_at_...>
Date: Thu, 21 Sep 2000 11:32:48 -0400

> Following on from my rules list Animism questions, here's a cultural
> one. Where do all the little Kolati come from? More specifically, how
> many Animists would be in a clan of, say, 600 (on average, I guess
> some clans would have none at all)? And how many Spirit Talkers would
> be needed to fulfill their magical needs (actually, it's more likely
> one Spirit Talker serves a few clans, but still)?

Even in the time of King of Dragon Pass (14th Century) Kolati were rare. In many cases they are people who are not 'called to the gods' or are just plain don't fit.

Herot was a kolating before Ghost Storm 'convinced' him to sacrifice to Orlanth.

I would say that kolating are usually pretty rare -- except in clans that have them as a matter of course. I think that some clans will have several (2-3 shamen/holy folk plus apprentices) and other clans will have none.

It also may depend on the clan's history -- if you've got a tradition of talking rocks and walking trees in your area, you may have people who can deal with these things more peacably than sending in the Humakti Death Commandoes.

> I was wondering this specifically, as the only two Traditions
> available to awaken fetches are Kolat, male only, and, without some
> changes to my mental image, not the picture of a devoted husband and

Nope, he's not. He's wild, untamed and fickle. Sort of like Lodril was, way back when. (I have a warm spear and I like to thrust with it.)

> father, and Sedrosa, open only to females of a certain age (assuming
> it follows the Asrelia way), who might have brought up a family
> before joining, but being Misapplied Worshippers are none too
> productive on spirits. So, it looks like Heortling Animists usually
> don't have a family Spirit Talker, because Spirit Talkers don't leave
> decendants (barring Sedrosans before they become Sedrosans...).
>
> Wulf

That's probably true. Though, in families which truly cherish the ancestors, you might find that the occasional 'holy person' will crop up. But the Herotlings are almost exclusively theist, and that's something I am comfrotable with. Most of the time, their gods satisfy their spiritual and magical needs. The few times they don't, kolat is there or Sedrosa.

The Pelorian cultures are more encompassing and have a wider series of roots which is why we find a greater variety of religious practices amongst them.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

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